State Representative Tony McCombie is joining the Illinois Department of Agriculture in reminding all farm workers to stay safe when working in and around grain bins as part of Grain Bin Safety Week. The annual period for awareness runs from February 16 through February 22.
According to IDOA, with 2019 crop conditions drawing comparisons to 2009 when crops were stored in relatively wet conditions, this year’s safety week takes great importance. The 2009 crop led to a dangerous environment surrounding grain bins in 2010. According to Purdue University, 2010 was the most hazardous year on record for grain bin accidents, with 59 entrapments and 26 deaths nationwide.
“It’s easy to become complacent when workers have been in and out of bins for years and never had any problems,” said Joe Small, Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Bureau Chief of Warehouses. “People often think they are big enough, strong enough, or fast enough to get out of flowing grain. All too often, problems can snowball out of control quickly. It’s important for everyone to be vigilant and keep personal safety front of mind.”
“We tend to see a correlation between grain quality and grain bin entrapments or engulfments,” said Jeff Adkisson, Executive Vice President of the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois. “It’s extremely important to turn off all unloading equipment and secure it with a lock or zip-tie (called lock-out) so someone else cannot turn equipment back on before going into a grain bin.”
“We all need to urge our agriculture community to put safety first,” said Rep. Tony McCombie. “Illinois has had too many of these deaths and already a close call this year. These accidents are terrible for farming families, helpless observers and first responders who work diligently to try to save lives when these accidents occur. Please observe best practices when it comes to safety.”
Several training resources are available:
• The Grain and Feed
Association of Illinois at www.gfai.org
• The Grain Handling and Safety Council at www.grainsafety.org
• University of Illinois Extension at https://web.extension.illinois.edu/agsafety/equipment/grainbinsafety.cfm